Lidl store attacked in Tallaght

8 men are due to appear in court charged with a number of offences in relation to looting incidents in Tallaght on Friday night.

The men, aged between 24 and 47, will appear before the Criminal Court of Justice this morning on a number of charges, including burlary, theft and trespassing.

1 other man in his 30's is stil in Garda custody after being arrested for handling stolen property.

The Lidl store on Fortunestown Lane had its roof ripped off by a stolen digger last night, the safe was removed and later found partially opened.

A Centra store was also targetted, and responding gardai came under attack with sticks and stones. Civil Defence and Defence Forces trucks and snowploughs then had to be used to bring in garda reinforcements.

"People's jobs in the store have been put at risk by this mindless act of vandalism," he said.

"People's lives were also put at risk, because you have the Gardaí and firefighting units having to respond to this, instead of being able to concentrate on the national weather emergency we're having.